Abstract

The methods of burial as practised by primitive races
are of distinct interest in assisting to trace their evolutionary
history. Owing to the lack of authentic information in
detail of the customs of the Tasmanian aborigines, our
knowledge is, in many matters, vague and uncertain. Often
the observations relating to the aborigines were made years
after their contact with the white race, and naturally their
customs had been affected.
Further, the more one studies the early records and
observations made by early colonists, the more one realises
their contradictory nature. The available evidence which
could be gathered from early records has been admirably
summarised by Ling Roth (1899, pp. 116-122).

In 1843 the Horticultural and Botanical Society of Van Diemen's Land was founded and became the Royal Society of Van Diemen's Land for Horticulture, Botany, and the Advancement of Science in 1844. In 1855 its name changed to Royal Society of Tasmania for Horticulture, Botany, and the Advancement of Science. In 1911 the name was shortened to Royal Society of Tasmania.